Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-05-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
trrom our Regular rcOrre.pondcntl


WASHINGTON, May 9th, 1887.
The busiest place in Washington now is
the headquarters oil the National Drill aud
the busiest man is the managing secretary,
Mr.. DeLeon. lie ats at his desk all day,
aud on the glass partition which shields
Inn from intrusion a sign IL posted up
that Mr. DeLeon is engaged. lie is al.
ways busily engaged aud the sign is never
taken down,
His Office has quite military air,
Pictures Of camp scenes, samples OF camp
COTS, Autographs representing tented
field, with marching troops, and the Wash
imglon Monument Looming up above NIL
with otler shadows Of the coming event
lie around. Clerks are busy at work ut
tables aud in one corner the Committee oI
Public Comfort has ils headquarters
Here register IL kept of rooms aud beds
available, aud otlrcr Information that
might he OF use, 10 persons Wis ting the
city during the Drill week, The commits
tee takes no note OF the large hotels, il
seeks to provide for those who cannot get
into the hotels, or who desire TO live at
less daily expense than ia usual at hotels,
At the last Inauguration this committee
did excellent work in hunting places
where accommodations could he afforded
strangers, and then inviting correspondence
with those who wanted rooms and board
and il has undertaken the same work for
the National Drill.
On the White Lot preparations are 60
ing on for the Drill and the large camp
ground is being enclosed. At the foot OF
the Washington Monument the troops oI
the North and the South will meet In fra
ternal spirit TO vie for the honors and
prizes provided by the liberaltv OF the
projectors OF the undertaking. When the
project Of holding National Drill il
May was first broached last TALL, it was
taken mp at once by number OF ener-
getic citizens who by their personal in1n
ence and labors, and thei, iberal sub,
scriptions in money, at once assured the
success Of the whole affair. Committee,
were Immediately organized, and steps
taken 10 assemble the flower of the Amer
lean National Guard in Camp George
Washington"
The purposes of the Drill were set fortl
in memorial to Congress. 1t said
"wilhin the past ten years interstate COM
petitive drills of the volunteer soldiers o.
the United States have been held at diff
ferent points in tins country, always will
advantage TO the drill, discipline Nnc
morale of the militia, and with increas-
ing interest and attention OF the citizen
ship of the several states. The idea haI
frequently been canvassed, and the feeling
over the Union has grown, that ma
lional competitive drill and encampmen
at the National Capital would not only
collect a larger body OF representative sol
diers but would be of more military i'm
portance and advantage from the naliona
character tine event would necessarily at
tain amid national surroundings" etc, etc
AS TO the rules of the camp, all com
mands. unless their entry is accepted will
| special exception to the contrary, viii
be required 10 enter camp and remain
during the entire period of the drill. The
Washington troops will form no cxcep-
tion TO this order. All commands will be
subject to camp guard duty, daily dress
parade, and to all other rules promul-
gated by the Commandant of the camp
Gen. Anger. Tents or barracks, and straw
for bed sscks will be furnished, but sub
sistance will not. There will be camp
restaurant, at which meals may be pro
cured at rate fixed by the managing
committee, and the keeper will be held Il
strict accountability az 10 the prices and
character of food, while companies doing
their own cooking will be furnished witt
fuel and with mess quarters. The hospita
and ambulance departments of the drill vii
be in charge Of the Red Cross Society.
The prizes are probably the largest eve
offered. For the best company OF infantry
tor instance, the first prize is 5000; sec
ond prize, S2,5OO; third prize, 81 500
fourth prize, $1,000; fifth prize, $500
total Sl0,5 500. For the hest company O
cavalry the first prize lie $4,000, the secon,
$500. Then there are the prizes Cor tn
best regiment of infantry, for the best bat
tallion of infantry, the best drill. Cude
Corps; then there are the prizes for riff
practice and other individual prizes, sucl
AZ Tor the best drilled soldier in the man
ual OF arms, competition restricted to no
more than two members OF any one com
pany.
Among the attractions which will b
shown Bightly on the drill grounds is
pyrorama representing the naval battle i
Hampton roads, which ended with III
memorable contest between the Monito
and Merrimac. Unlike panorama, Tia
war vessels in this case are seen movin
about. guns are fired, and the shock an
fire of battle are vividly depicted. Th
vessels are made complete, are from fort.
two feet in length, and IN the perspective,
look like ships of full size.
"Rnzzoop."
Hon. Tom A. McNeal, OF the Medicin